Profits are up, as are emissions, at OPG
But the higher profit came at an environmental cost.
Low water levels caused by a dry spring and summer forced OPG to burn more coal to generate power.
Carbon dioxide emissions are up 45 per cent compared with last year, the company says in its third quarter report.
Although OPG must close all its coal plants by 2014, it appears they came in handy this summer when low water levels decreased output from hydroelectric stations. Production also edged lower at nuclear stations.
But output from OPGÂ’s thermal plants, which mostly burn coal, rose by 250 per cent in the three months ended September 30.
Boosting coal production will get harder as the years go by: OPG permanently closed two coal-fired units at each of its Nanticoke and Lambton stations on October 1.
OPG said its profit increase was also helped by higher returns on funds set aside to pay for the future costs of storing used nuclear fuel and decommissioning nuclear plants.
The companyÂ’s revenue for the three-month period climbed to $1.396 billion from $1.345 billion a year earlier.
Related News
To Limit Climate Change, Scientists Try To Improve Solar And Wind Power
WASHINGTON - Solar energy in Wisconsin continued to grow in 2019, as more homeowners had rooftop panels installed and big utilities started building multi-panel solar farms.
Wind power is increasing more slowly in the state. However, developers are again coming forward with proposals for multiple turbines.
Nationally, researchers are working on ways to get even more energy from solar and wind, as states like Wisconsin aim to reduce their carbon emissions over the next few decades.
One reason solar energy is growing in Wisconsin is due to the silicon panels becoming more efficient. But scientists haven't finished trying to improve panel efficiency. The…
